Weedeater Postpone Album and Tour After Front-Man Shoots Off Big Toe While Cleaning Shotgun

Look, we apologize in advance for chuckling a bit. We're Canadians, you see, so stories like this just bewilder us. But we do realize this is no laughing matter.

"Dixie" Dave Collins, vocalist/bassist of North Carolina sludge metal outfit Weedeater, has shot off one of his toes by accident while cleaning a shotgun.

We repeat, we do not think this is funny and sincerely hope Collins has a quick recovery. It's just that we didn't think things like this actually happened. We didn't even think people actually cleaned shotguns. Hell, we've never even seen a shotgun.

Anyway, the band were going to record their follow-up to 2007's wondrous piece of sludge, God Luck and Good Speed, this month with Steve Albini and play some shows on the way to and from his studio in Chicago.

But in a statement on the band's MySpace blog, Weedeater confirm none of this will be happening now. The recording session will be pushed to until after the band's scheduled tour in March and April, now known as the "nine-toe tour."

"We regret to inform all of you that this weekend, Dixie Dave shot his big toe off whilst cleaning his favourite shotgun," the entry reads. "Yup, that's right. When reached for comment, Mr. Collins gave a quote that speaks for itself... 'It wasn't my intention to shoot off my big toe. This really fucking sucks and the pain is unbearable.'"

The post goes on to say that Collins's doctors have said he has to stay in bed for the next few weeks while he recovers. But as soon as he's good to go, the band will be back in action.